THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

REVIEWS FROM MY VINYL COLLECTION

Category: Vinyl Reviews (Page 241 of 492)

URIAH HEEP – Live 1973

November 5, 2022 /

It may seem hard to believe now, but Uriah Heep along with Deep Purple and Black Sabbath were one of the biggest hard rock acts around in the 70’s, selling out everywhere they went. To put things into perspective somewhat, just before COVID they played a local bar near where I live. I was a huge fan of 70’s Heep and it’s safe to say that after the passing of Dave Byron things were never the same. Don’t get me wrong, they have made some great albums since (Abominog), but that spark was missing.

Recorded throughout the UK in ’73 in support of the Magician’s Birthday album, the band sound amazing. Dave Byron’s vocals were so good, he had a great range. On Traveller In Time, which was one of the heavier songs, Byron actually reminds me of Bruce Dickinson. There are so many huge songs on this album: July Morning, Gypsy, and the showpiece Magician’s Birthday where Mick Box and Ken Hensley show their talents. Easy Livin’ was actually released as a single, it has a very catchy hook and chorus – I guess someone at the record company was paying attention. A great live album from a band in their prime.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

BLACKBERRY SMOKE – Find A Light

November 5, 2022 /

Among the new breed of heavy blues rock bands to appear over the last few years, Blackberry Smoke are one of the most melodic.  This is their sixth album, released back in 2018.

Things open up nicely with the heavy groove monster that is Flesh And Bone (my favourite track). A killer simple riff, great vocal from Charlie Starr, and it’s a winner all the way. Run Away From It All mixes things up with a heavy country vibe – love the middle section in this. The Crooked Kind is pure southern barroom rock n’ roll. We are in Allmans territory with Medicate My Mind, both are from Georgia so no surprise there. I’ll Keep Rambling is superb with Robert Randolph guesting, this is chicken pickin’ a go go. There is a lack of southern rock n’ roll bands in the mainstream with that Skynyrd vibe, and Till The Wheels Fall Off scratches that itch for me. A solid album and they put on a good show to.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

KING CRIMSON – In The Court Of The Crimson King

November 4, 2022 /

Sometimes it’s quite hard to describe to a younger music fan just what a groundbreaking and influential album this was at the time. This album is 53 years old now. So much music has been made that has been influenced by this album since its released, so much so that the sounds embedded in these grooves come across as dated to the new listener.

The opening track, 20th Century Schizoid Man stills sounds as insane and awesome as the first day I heard it. I Talk To The Wind follows, it is one of the few tracks that main-man Robert Fripp had not written. Sounding very Beatles-esque complete with mellotron, it’s a million miles away from the opening track. You could say that Crimson invented Prog, and Epitaph, complete with swirling mellotron and the huge ending gives testimony to that.

Moonchild opens up Side 2 in the most beautiful and gentle way with the softness of Greg Lake’s vocals, but this gives way to some crazy improvisations. The title track closes out the album and this is the best track on the album, its my favourite. I love the melody, tone, and the content of Lake’s vocals, and the way the track just builds is epic. It looks as though Mr Fripp has called time on the touring from Crimson, but I do hope they will record some new music as the musical landscape is a lot more interesting with him in it.

9/10 from The Grooveman.

NELSON – After The Rain

November 4, 2022 /

I guess it helps when your dad was a fifties pop star and heartthrob actor to give you a leg up in the biz. Then when you surround yourself with kick ass musicians like Bobby Rock on drums and Bret Garsed on guitar, you have everything in place to be one hell of a band. However, if you don’t have the songs, you can have the best band in the universe and it means nothing.

The album opens up with Love And Affection, and I think we all know how big that song was. That’s how you start an album; BOOM… hit song. I Can Hardly Wait is my favourite tune on the album, a super slick piece of melodic rock with a really cool groove and hook. If you want to give lessons on how to create a super slick aor monster record, then this album should be number one in the how-to books. Occasionally they do break out of their shell and rock it up slightly, like the beginning to Its Just Desire and the opening riff to Will You Love Me. But overall, the melody and the songs are the things that make this album an aor fan’s wet dream. Add to that, a killer production and you have a great sounding record.

8.5/10 from The Grooveman.

« Older posts Newer posts »

Archives

© 2026 THE GROOVEMAN'S COLLECTION

Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑